Health services
New Students
- Pre-Arrival Booklet
- SEVIS
-
International Students Handbook
- Adjusting to American culture
- Advisors
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Good housekeeping
- Health care
- Housing, utilities, and furnishings
- Immigration information
- International student clubs and organizations
- Issues related to children
- Legal issues
- Mail and the U.S. Postal Service
- Money and banking
- Opportunities for spouses in the Troy area
- Security / public safety
- Services in the Troy area
- Shopping tips
- Social services
- Transportation
- U.S. telephone system
- Working on- and off-campus
- Visa application information
- Office of Graduate Education (OGE)
- Office of the First-Year Experience (FYE)
Rensselaer's Student Health Services are available from the Health Center, seven days a week during the academic year. The Health Center can be found on the third floor of Academy Hall, which is located on the corner of 15th Street and College Avenue. It is also open during the summer and other vacations on a more limited schedule. Doctor's hours are scheduled Monday through Friday.
The Student Health Center is affiliated with a local hospital and works with consulting specialists when necessary. Dependents of Rensselaer students are not eligible to use the Student Health Center.
Health insurance
If you are an F-1 international student, you must purchase Rensselaer’s health insurance unless you can prove that comparable health insurance coverage from your home country will cover you in the United States. You should have received information about this directly from the Student Health Center. Rensselaer’s insurance coverage has been carefully designed, with a great deal of student input to reflect the needs of today’s active students. If you have equivalent coverage, our insurance fee may be waived, but you will still be required to pay the health service fee.
Special insurance information for J-1 students only
Current U.S. regulations require all individuals in J status (J-1 or J-2) to carry health insurance meeting certain minimum levels. These include:
- Medical benefits - $50,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation - $7,500
- Medical evacuation - $10,000
- Deductibles - not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
If your sponsor does not provide insurance which meets these levels, you will be required to purchase Rensselaer’s insurance. Rensselaer's insurance policy does meet these requirements. Failure to maintain adequate medical insurance for yourself and/or your dependents while in the U.S. will cause your program to be immediately terminated.
Health service fee
All Rensselaer students pay a mandatory health service fee of approximately $250.00 per semester. The fee covers all visits to the Student Health Center, including the Counseling Center and health education, as well as lab tests performed on premises, such as throat cultures. However, there are additional charges for immunizations, splints, and copying medical records. All registered students are eligible to use the Student Health Center. The Health Service fee covers these visits.
Health forms
You should have received, completed, and returned the Rensselaer health forms which have already been sent to you. If you were unable to undergo the required physical examination at home, inform Health Services immediately upon your arrival. That office will help you arrange to have a physical examination upon arrival. The fee for this examination is approximately $70.00; any shots required are at an extra cost. Also, please be sure to complete the immunization section of the Health Record exactly as required
Immunizations
New York state law requires all students to provide the Student Health Center with physician-certified evidence of immunity to various diseases. Rensselaer is required by the provisions of this law to refuse to allow you to continue in attendance if you have not supplied this evidence.
For information on required immunizations, call the Student Health Center at (518) 276-6287, or visit their website.